Of the more than 700 fatalities of the Chile earthquake, many perished in Chile's small coastal towns. The towns were apparently unprepared for the tsunamis, which tossed boats and flattened buildings.

As many as 350 people died in Constitución (map) alone from 33-foot (10-meter) tsunamis, according to the Miami Herald. The town gymnasium has become a makeshift morgue, and a fishing boat sits in the middle of the public square, MSNBC reported.

The Chilean government failed to warn residents about tsunami risks following the giant earthquake, which hit before dawn, Chilean Defense Minister Francisco Vidal acknowledged Sunday. Tsunami warnings were issued, though, in faraway locales such as Hawaii and Japan, though those tsunamis proved to be small.

In Chile, 30 minutes passed between the quake and a large wave that inundated coastal towns, MSNBC reported.

Photograph by Martin Bernetti, AFP, Getty Images

Tossed Like Toys by Tsunami

Seen on March 1, 2010, massive cargo containers are strewn across tsunami-damaged buildings in Talcahuano, Chile, following a massive earthquake on February 27.

Many of the devastated coastal towns have shut off water and electricity, and hundreds of thousands of survivors are in need of food and water.

Photograph by Daniel Garcia, AFP, Getty Images

Chile Tsunami Survivor

Many towns along Chile's Pacific coast—such as Talcahuano, pictured on March 1, 2010—were devastated by tsunami waves set off by the February 27 earthquake.

Television images show houses torn from their foundations, cars tossed like toys, and the ground covered in shattered wood, MSNBC reported.

More than 75 percent of the village of Dichato was destroyed, community leader David Merino told MSNBC.

"After the earthquake there were three waves," Merino said. "The first two were big and didn't do much damage, but the last one almost wiped the village off the map."

Photograph by Martin Bernetti, AFP, Getty Images

Roof Laid Low by Tsunami

Seen on February 28, 2010, a roof lies on the coast alongside people's belongings after a tsunami generated by the huge February 27 earthquake hit the town of Penco, Chile.

Chile has been hit by numerous strong aftershocks, and looters have pillaged stores. Chilean President Michelle Bachelet ordered grocery stores on Monday to give away food in order to help victims and quell looting, ABC World News reported.

Photograph by Martin Bernetti, AFP, Getty Images

Tsunami-Tipped Car in Chile

People peer into a vehicle tipped over by tsunamis on February 28 in Pelluhue, near the epicenter of a giant Chile earthquake that struck a day earlier.

The fifth strongest quake ever recorded has left more than two million people without shelter and many without food, which has led Chile to request international aid from the United Nations, USA Today reported.

Photograph by Ivan Alvarado, Reuters

Surveying Tsunami Damage

A police officer inspects debris in Pelluhue, Chile, close to the epicenter of the February 27, 2010, earthquake. The temblor generated tsunamis that slammed many coastal towns, killing hundreds.

Chilean rescuers used shovels and sledgehammers on Sunday to find survivors, many of whom are still trapped in the rubble.